The Stars Themselves
IntroductionThe Stars Themselves is a sci-fi nation roleplay with a focus on a number of interstellar factions. It takes place in a small section of a single galactic arm, several dozen lightyears across and filled with hundreds upon hundreds of stars. There is no pre-described background history the players must build their factions around, to allow for the most creative freedom.
The Stars Themselves is a character-driven nation roleplay, with the plot progressed and told by individuals within the story, rather than played out as an impersonal strategy game of grand scale.
RulesDo not Metagame: Metagaming is the act of using information derived through out-of-character experience, discussion, or reading to use in-character when said character(s) do not possess such experience or knowledge.
Do not Godmod: Godmodding is the act of treading on another player’s domain through the control of their characters, factions, or other such in-character constructs, whether that be their actions, reactions, or thoughts.
Do not Powergame: Powergaming is the act of abusing the mechanics or rules of a system to gain an advantage, and otherwise treating the roleplay as a competitive game rather than collaborative storytelling.
And above all
Maintain the Verisimilitude and Fun of the roleplay
Faction Name: Name of the faction (including any applicable initialisms).
Faction Type: Form of government, e.g., democratic republic, pseudo-feudalistic empire.
Species: Species in the faction, including a brief description of any non-human species.
Scale and Territory: Brief overview of major bodies in the faction’s control and general information on their area of influence. Include a scale rating based on the chart in the Scale hider.
Culture: Dominant culture of the faction, such as religion and social mannerisms. You may also want to include details on how the government is run and the influences the culture/government has on faction’s species, economy, and territory.
History: A summary of the faction’s origins and major events involving the faction
Technology: An overview of the faction’s technological capabilities. Include their FTL method.
Military Forces: Approximate military forces of the faction and their relevant capabilities. You can include ship classes and descriptions if you like.
A sheet is not required to be filled out for every character introduced in the course of roleplay, but it is recommended to create one for major, recurring characters in your faction.
Character Name:
Physical Description:
Personality:
Skills:
History:
To give a general overview of a faction’s capabilities and how they compare to others, The Stars Themselves employs a ranking system similar to the Kardashev scale. This scale is below, and a faction’s ranking on the scale can be found in the Scale and Territory field of the nation sheet. In remembrance, the system has been nicknamed “the Iradev scale.”
The Iradev Scale
Planetary
Planetary factions are able to reliably travel around their own planet, with trains, planes, and ships. These factions are on par with WWII era Earth and are not recommended to play for any significant extent of the roleplay. This rank on the scale is mostly for example purposes.
Interplanetary
Possessing roughly the technological capabilities from the Cold War to near-future (21st Century onward) Earth, Interplanetary factions have taken their first steps among the stars and have begun to explore and perhaps colonize their home star system, and use the resources around their star. Interplanetary factions vary in capability, but on average, they can reliably make transit between other orbital bodies in their home system.
Basic Interstellar
Whether through the development of basic FTL drives or the use of seeder, generation, and/or sleeper ships, Basic Interstellar factions have visited their neighboring stars in person and begun the process of developing permanent infrastructure there. While skipping between stars is expensive, dangerous, unreliable, or a combination of all three, it’s no longer as difficult a prospect as it used to be.
Interstellar
Interstellar factions are able to reliably transit between stars and most factions will have developed FTL drives by this point. Infrastructure around other stars is common for these factions, and they often have planetary colonies or orbital stations for the common population.
Advanced Interstellar
Interstellar travel has become significantly cheaper, safer, and easier. Advanced Interstellar factions have many extrasolar colonies across around a dozen or more star systems, and new infrastructure is being built all the time. While they are fairly advanced, they are still mortals and lower ranked factions can still pose a threat to them, though they will be at a significant disadvantage.
If you're interested in participating, please post. I am willing to answer any questions in this thread regarding the roleplay, as well.
Assuming sufficient interest, the official thread will be posted within a few days. In the mean time, interested posters are free to begin working on their factions.
